Abstract: An image processing apparatus and an image processing method are provided which, when forming an image using a plurality of different sizes of dots, can produce a satisfactory image free from problematical levels of density unevenness, graininess and insufficient density with any of these dot sizes. To this end, when printing on pixel areas of a print medium by a plurality of relative movements between the printing unit and the print medium, the dot overlap rate of a dot size that tends to show density unevenness is set higher than that of a dot size that tends to show other image impairments more conspicuously than the density unevenness. This results in a satisfactory image that eliminates such image impairments as density unevenness, graininess and density insufficiency in the entire grayscale range.

Abstract: A physical layer which depends on hardware of a general-purpose interface determines whether an image supply device supports a predetermined communication protocol. A transport layer which controls communication as an upper layer of the physical layer determines whether the image supply device supports the predetermined communication protocol. When either of the physical and transport layers determines that the image supply device supports the predetermined communication protocol, the image supply device is decided to support the predetermined communication protocol. When both of the physical and transport layers do not determine that the image supply device supports the predetermined communication protocol, an application layer serving as an upper layer of the transport layer determines whether the image supply device supports the predetermined communication protocol.

Abstract: When a gradation mask is used to distribute image data to be recorded by overlapping portions in an overlapping head, color unevenness is generated in an image recorded by the overlapping portions due to a displacement in impact positions caused by an assembly error. As a result, accurate colorimetric measurement of patches recorded by the overlapping portion cannot be performed. To solve such a problem, a distribution ratio by which the image data is distributed to the overlapping portions is set to be approximately constant when recording a test pattern for performing color correction, as compared to when normally recording the image.

Abstract: Provided are an image processor and an image processing method that are capable of suppressing both density unevenness due to printing position shifts among a group of dots printed by a plurality of relative movements (or a plurality of printing element groups) and graininess. In order to accomplish this, a dot overlap rate in the printing mode in which the density unevenness stands out is made higher than the dot overlap rate in the printing mode in which other defects stand out more than the density unevenness. By doing so, it is possible to suitably adjust the dot overlap rate according to the image characteristic, and output an image having no density unevenness or graininess.

Abstract: There is provided an image processing method of laying out and outputting an image of an original formed from a plurality of pages on one page, the method comprising: inputting image data of the original formed from the plurality of pages; dividing the image data input in the inputting into a plurality of blocks; discarding unnecessary information; appending necessary information to each block obtained by division in the dividing based on the predetermined rule; replacing the respective blocks obtained by division in the dividing with the block from which the unnecessary information is discarded in the discarding, and the block to which the necessary information is appended in the appending; and outputting the respective blocks which have undergone replacement in the replacing by laying out the respective blocks on one page.

Abstract: Image data can be subjected to a smoothing processing to improve a color reproduction characteristic and an image free from a deteriorated gradation characteristic can be printed. Specifically, the smoothing processing improves the color reproduction characteristic. This smoothing processing may cause a color originally not having the lightness equal to or lower than blacking lightness to be converted to a color having lightness equal to or lower than the blacking lightness. To solve this, such a color is subjected to a gradation adjustment processing to convert the color to the color having the lightness higher than blacking lightness. A gamut mapping does not map such a color on a black point, thus preventing such a color from being broken by the blacking.

Abstract: When dividing multi-valued data and generating data for two-pass multi-pass printing, in addition to divided multi-valued data that are divided for each of the two passes, divided multi-valued data that is common to both of the two passes is generated. Moreover, quantized data of that common multi-valued data is reflected onto the quantized data for each pass. Furthermore, when generating quantized data, division ratios that are used when generating the common data by the multi-valued data division described above are set according to the image characteristics (whether or not the area is flesh color) of the multi-valued data. Thereby, it is possible to perform high-quality printing regardless of the image characteristics by taking a suitable balance between suppressing density unevenness and suppressing graininess.

Abstract: A pixel in a photograph region image to be subjected to blacking is subjected to a brightness modulation processing so that the pixel is modulated to any of “a pixel having the brightness to be subject to blacking” and “a pixel having the brightness not to be subject to blacking”. Specifically, the modulation by noise addition converts some pixels for which original pixel values are to be subjected to blacking to a pixel having the brightness not subjected to blacking. Thereby, “a pixel having the brightness not to be subject to blacking” thus converted has no change in brightness in the blacking processing. Consequently, a pixel at which the blacking processing is not generated can be caused to exist in the photograph image. As a result, even when the blacking processing set for character/line region is similarly set for the photograph region, the effect of the blacking can be reduced.

Abstract: In image processing it is possible to adequately reduce density unevenness and graininess according to the duty of the image data. More specifically, when dividing multi-valued data and generating 2-pass multi-pass printing data, in addition to the divided multi-valued data for each of the two passes, divided multi-valued data that is common to both of the two passes is also generated. Moreover, the quantized data of that common multi-valued data is reflected on the quantized data of each pass. Furthermore, when generating quantized data, the division ratio when generating common data in the division of multi-valued data is set according to the duty (gradation value) of the multi-valued data. By doing so it becomes possible to adequately reduce the density unevenness and graininess according to the duty of the image data.

Abstract: An image processing apparatus includes an obtaining unit, a determination unit, a setting unit, and a processing unit to perform an image edge intensifying processing. The obtaining unit obtains image data by reading a document. The determination unit determines an image edge direction. The setting unit sets an edge intensifying processing intensity based on the image data and a processing intensity determined corresponding to a difference between resolution in a main scanning direction and resolution in a sub-scanning direction. The processing unit performs the image edge intensifying processing according to the set intensity. In response to the resolution of the image data being higher in the sub-scanning direction than in the main scanning direction, the setting unit sets a higher intensity of the edge intensifying processing in response to the edge direction being along the sub-scanning direction than in response to the edge direction being along the main scanning direction.

Abstract: When multi-pass printing is performed, the dot overlap rate (ratio of the number of dots that overlap and are to be printed in the same pixel area by the plurality of relative movements with respect to the total number of dots to be printed in a pixel area by the plurality of relative movements) in pixel areas having medium-density where density unevenness caused by density fluctuation easily stands out is made higher than the dot overlap rate in pixel areas having low-density and pixel areas having high-density. By doing so density unevenness caused by density fluctuation is suppressed. In addition, the dot overlap rate in pixel areas having low-density and pixel areas having high-density is low, so it is possible to reduce graininess in low-density areas and suppress a decrease in density in high-density areas.

Abstract: In a printing system in which a digital camera (DSC) and PD printer apparatus are directly connected via a USB, and image data is transmitted from the DSC to the PD printer apparatus and printed, Capability of the PD printer apparatus is transmitted from the PD printer apparatus to the DSC after communication procedures are established by an application (NCDP) installed in the PD printer apparatus and DSC. The PD printer apparatus is caused to execute print operation in accordance with print conditions set by the DSC on the basis of the transmitted Capability.

Abstract: A recording apparatus comprises a writing unit adapted to write data on a recording medium, a selection unit adapted to select data to be written on the recording medium from a storage medium configured to store a plurality of data, and a display control unit adapted to cause a display device to display a display screen concerning printing before the data selected by said selection unit is copied from the storage medium onto the recording medium, wherein said display control unit causes the display unit to display the display screen if there is a restriction on the number of times of copying of the data.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an image reading apparatus. In the apparatus, reading an original by irradiating it with light of three primary colors, respectively, and by receiving the reflected light is performed as follows. More specifically, an operation mode is designated, and conditions used to perform image reading are set in accordance with the designated mode. Under the set conditions, the image reading is performed according to a method of irradiating an original sequentially with beams of the three primary colors and reading the beams reflected by the original. Alternatively, under the set conditions, image reading is performed according to a method of irradiating an original simultaneously with beams of two primary colors in each of three different combinations of the three primary colors and reading the beams reflected by the original. Instead, image reading is executed twice according to these two methods.

Abstract: A sheet music creation method of creating sheet music whose layout is changed based on image data of sheet music input from an input device includes the steps of dividing the image data of the sheet music input from the input device into grand staffs, designating the grand staffs divided in the dividing in the order of performance, and re-editing, by a processor, image data representing the grand staffs in accordance with the order designated in the designating.

Abstract: In order to eliminate image deterioration based on the characteristics of an output device upon execution of edge emphasis processing, an image processing apparatus includes a setting unit which sets a print characteristic on the print medium, a region setting unit which sets a region, a brightness value derivation unit which derives brightness values, a first derivative derivation which derives first derivatives of the brightness values, an edge direction determination unit which determines an edge direction of brightness, an emphasis level determination unit which determines an emphasis level of a pixel value based on the first derivatives, and a replacement unit which calculates second derivatives of brightness values and replaces a pixel value of a pixel of interest based on the sign of the second derivative.

Abstract: This invention is directed to provide a method capable of performing filter processing suitable for each of different image reading methods. This method includes the steps of causing a light emitting unit to sequentially irradiate an image original with light components of three primary colors and read the image original, and causing the light emitting unit to simultaneously irradiate the image original with one of three different color combinations, which includes two of the light components of three primary colors, and read the image original. The method further includes the step of processing image data obtained based on the reflected light received by the light receiving unit after changing a filter to be used for image processing depending on whether reading of the image original is primary color reading or complementary color reading.

Abstract: Color compression processing capable of sufficiently maintaining a visual constant hue property even after the color compression processing is realized. There is provided a method for generating a profile used to convert a color of a first color reproduction range into a color of a second color reproduction range. The method includes dividing each of the first and second color reproduction ranges into a plurality of regions, performing color space conversion for individual regions in accordance with color space definitions unique to the individual regions, and generating a profile used to convert the color of the first color reproduction range into the color of the second color reproduction range based on color coordinates obtained through the color space conversion performed for individual regions.

Abstract: A sheet music processing method of processing, by an image processing apparatus, image data of sheet music input by an input device, the method comprising setting, by a user using a designation unit of the image processing apparatus, a unit in which the image data of the sheet music is processed; dividing the image data of the sheet music into units corresponding to the unit; determining whether image data of a first one of the units is repeated in one or more others of the units; and processing the image data, when the image data of the first one of the units is determined to be repeated in the one or more others of the units, to append information using the image processing apparatus to the image data of the first one of the units and the image data of the one or more others of the units.

Abstract: In a printing system in which a digital camera (DSC) and PD printer apparatus are directly connected via a USB, and image data is transmitted from the DSC to the PD printer apparatus and printed, Capability of the PD printer apparatus is transmitted from the PD printer apparatus to the DSC after communication procedures are established by an application (NCDP) installed in the PD printer apparatus and DSC. The PD printer apparatus is caused to execute print operation in accordance with print conditions set by the DSC on the basis of the transmitted Capability.